# NTSB CEN09CA158: Cessna 170, N2333D, Cottonwood Falls, KS, February 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 7, 2009, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Cottonwood Falls, KS - Coordinates: 38.355278, -96.55278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3553&lon=-96.5528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Cessna, FAA Wichita FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73332/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA158 ## Probable cause The decision of the pilot to attempt operations outside the forward center of gravity limit. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's selection of an inadequate runway for the conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: cG/weight distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot attempted a takeoff from a 2,300-foot-long dry turf runway with a five-knot crosswind from the right side. A witness stated that the airplane never seemed to gain momentum, its tail did not raise during the take off, and its brakes locked at the last minute before hitting the fence at the end of the runway. The airplane then flipped over on its back causing damage to the right wing, vertical fin, and rudder. The pilot suffered minor injuries and the second pilot was not injured. A postaccident weight and balance calculation showed that the 575-pound combined weight of the two front seat occupants placed the airplane outside the allowable forward center of gravity limit. A postaccident performance planning calculation showed that on a grass/turf runway the takeoff distance would be approximately 2,299 feet with zero flaps, no wind, and with weight and balance within limits. ## Factual narrative The pilot attempted a take off from a 2,300 foot long dry turf runway with a five knot crosswind from the right side. A witness stated the airplane never seemed to gain momentum, did not raise the tail during the take off, and "locked the brakes" at the last minute before hitting the fence at the end of the runway. The airplane then flipped over on its back causing substantial damage to the right wing, vertical fin, and rudder. The pilot suffered minor injuries and the second pilot was not injured. A post accident weight and balance calculation showed that the 575 pounds combined weight of the two front seat occupants placed the airplane outside the allowable forward center of gravity limit. A post accident performance planning calculation showed that with operations on grass/turf runway the takeoff distance would be approximately 2,299 feet with zero flaps, no wind, and with weight and balance within limits. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2333D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2333D), registered now, S/N 20485, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20485 - Airframe hours: 2800 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 2008 - Departed: 9K0, Cottonwood Falls, KS - Destination: EQA, El Dorado, KS - Airport: 9K0, Chase County Airport, runway 17, 2,300 × 155 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 17, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 493 total, 3 in this make and model, 384 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 26; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 6, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 690 total, 1 in this make and model, 553 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KEMP, 17 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090207000919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090207000919A), Feb 7, 2009: Cessna 170B, Cottonwood Fal, KS, Substantial damage. Pilot aborted the takeoff on a 2600’ grass strip because the aircraft would not rotate. The aircraft went off the runway, through a barbed wire fence and… ## Other investigations on N2333D (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW85LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA048), Nov 9, 1984: Cessna 170B (N2333D), Amarillo, TX, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.